Coil handling truck



1961 G. F. QUAYLE 2,972,427

COIL HANDLING TRUCK Filed June 3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

6601 66 F (Pu/1m:

|| ATTOP/YEY Feb. 21, 1961 G. F. QUAYLE 2,972,427

' COIL. HANDLING TRUCK Lled June 3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @6096: l: Q04 yac- Feb. 21, 1961 G. F. QUAYLE con, HANDLING TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1958 I h ,1 q INVENTOR. 6504;65 QU/WLE WM Array/v6) Feb. 21, 1961 G. F. QUAYLE con. HANDLING TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 3, 1958 0m 5 mm 0w IIIIIIIIIII 'INVENTOR.

the up-ender.

Yale and Towne Manufacturing. Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut I Filed June-3, 1958, Ser. No. 739,582

Claims. Cl. 214-652) 1 This invention relates to industrial trucks, and more particularly to that class of industrialtrucks in whichthe load lifting meniberis an outwardly extending arm or ram that is inserted into an opening in the load;

Constructions of this class are known to those skilled in the art, and much effort hasbee'n' expended inth'e development of various operating constructions. Nevertheless, I have conceived a'completely new and different combination of parts that yieldsresults here'toforeunattainable by'trucks of known construction. Thus, as a result of my concept, I am able to lift ,a coil of tinplate, for example, the central cylindricaliopening of which is horizontal, bring a pallet into juxtaposed relation with one of the flat sides of the coil, rotate the coil and pallet together so that the central opening of the coil is vertical, and deposit the palleted coil on any flat surface.- In essence, my invention resides in the utilization of rotatable in an axis that isv offset and angular relatively to the line of direction in which the ram moves linearly j rel'ativ'ely to the upender, this axis of rotation being also Pangularto the axisof rotation of the up-en'derdtself. As another feature of the invention, I equip the upender with guide members and I mount the ram on a "ram carrier that engages these guide'membersjfor linear movement relatively to the up ender in any of its rotated positions.

; As afurther feature of. the inve'ntiong l arrange. the ram carrierto support ahead for linear movementjin a line of direction angular, to the line ofQdirec'tion of linear movement of the ram carrier itselfrelat ively to The coil engaging ram is mounted on this head for movement therewith.

' As another important feature of the invention, the

palletcarrier is also mounted on the guide members for linear movement relatively to the up-ender in any of its rotated positions. The line of direction of'linear movement ofthe pallet carrier relatively. to the up-ender is parallel to the line of directionof linear movement of the ram carrier relatively to the up-ender. In this way, a coil carried by the ram anda pallet carried by the pallet carrier may be brought into juxtaposition for deposition the pallet supporting the coil I If The up-ender is sup- 2,972,427 Patented Feb. 21, 1961 I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood,

. and in order that my contribution to the art may be so mounted relatively to 'the up-ender that jit" isalso better appreciated. There are, of course additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not "depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my inventionby those skilled in the art. 7, 7

An illustrative embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification.

In the drawing: 7 I, v

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a coil handling truck approaching a stack of pallets;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view ,offlthe truck carrying a pallet that has beenlifted andvrotated ninety degrees; a

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, but shows the ram inserted into the central cylindrical opening or, eye of a coil to be lifted;

Fig. 4 is similar to Figs. 2 and 3, but shows the ram and coil rotated ninety degrees about'a vertical axis so that a flat side of thecoil isv presented to a fiat surface of the pallet; I

'Fig. 5 is a front elevational view and coil in juxtaposed relation;

'Fig. 6 is similar 'to Fig. 5, but showsthe pallet and coil up-ended; I v

Fig. 7is similar to Fig. 6, but illustrates the ram withdrawn from the eye of the coil; p

Fig. 8, shows the ram shifted centrally of the truck;

Fig. 9 shows the pallet carrier depositing the palletwith theup-ended coil on a flatsurface;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a portion of a truck carrying the coil handling apparatus of the present invention, parts ofthe 'apparatusbeing broken away for l y? a v Fig. 1-1 is a sectional view taken along the line 11 11 ofFig. 10 and showing the ram and pallet carrier in alternate positions in broken lines;

. Fig.12 is a rear elevational view taken along the line fi12-12 of Fig. 11; 7

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawing, and, more particularly to Figs. 1, ,10, 11 and 12, there is shown an industrial truck showing the. pallet 10 having a pair of front wheels 11, a rear wheel '12,

garage:

.3 brackets 19 are secured to the carriage and extend across the channels in the uprights 17. A pair of rollers 20 is rotatably mounted on each bracket 19 and is confined within the channel of the adjacent upright to guide the carriage in vertical movement relatively to the uprights. To effect vertical movement of the carriage 17, I provide a pair of hydraulic rams 21 the cylinders of which are pivotally connected by brackets 22 and pins 24 to a cross-piece 25 secured to the bottoms of the uprights 16. The piston rods 26 of these rams are pivotally connected by similar brackets. 22 and pins 24 to a horizontal plate 27 extending rearwardly of, the carriage.

An up-ender 29 is supported by the carriage for rotary movement relatively thereto, and includes a plate 30 only slightly spaced forwardly of the carriage 17. An annular wear strip 31 is secured by screws to the carriage 17 and serves as a spacer between the carriage and the plate 30. The annular space between the shaft 32 and the wear strip 31 is preferably filled with a lubricating grease.

As best shown in Figs. 10, 12, and 13, a shaft 32 is mounted in a bearing member 34 secured to the carriage 17 and extending rearwardly thereof to enclose suitable roller bearings 35 that are angulated to rotatably support the shaft against longitudinal movement. The shaft 32 extends forwardly through the up-ender plate 30, to which it is welded, and this connection is reinforced by a series of circumferentially spaced gusset plates 36'. I

To achieve rotary movement of the shaft 32, and consequently ofthe up-ender 29, I mount atop the plate 27 and on the rear surface of the carriage 17,-a frame consisting of a pair of vertical plates 37 and an upper cross-member 39. Suspended from the cross-member 39 By brackets 22" and pin 24" for pivotal movement is a hydraulicramdt), the piston rod 41 of which is pivotally and eccentrically connected to the shaft 32 through an arm 42 extending radially outwardly of the inner end of the shaft32, as shown in Fig. 12. 7

On the forward face, of the up-ender plate 30, I mount a pair of spaced, parallel, double-channeled or I beams 44 each providing a pair of opposed outwardly and inwardly facing channels 45 and 46, respectively.

A ram carrier 47 comprises a vertical plate 49 secured to which are rearwardly extending brackets 50 each pivotally carrying a rectangular self-aligning slide. 51 disposed in the outwardly facing channels 45 for movement therein. The plate 49 ofthe ram carrierhas mounted on its .forward surface a pair of spaced, parallel channel or C beams 52, the channels 54 of which face eachother, for a purpose to be described. One of'these beams 52, the uppermost one as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, has a pair of rearwardly extending brackets 55 to which are pivotally connected, as at 56, the piston rods ,55

57 of a pair of hydraulic rams v59 whose cylinders are beam 90, theram 87 and the arm 89 extending from in turn pivotally mounted, as at 60, on theup-ender plate 30.

As I have already indicated, I provide a pallet carrier that is mounted for rotation with the up-ender and that is movable linearly in a line of direction parallel'to the line of direction of linear movement of the ram carrier 47. I have chosen to illustrate the pallet carrier as a pair of forks 61 merging with a back plate 62 that is disposed parallel to the up-ender plate 30. As best shown in Fig. 10, this back plate has end brackets 64 opposite the inner channels46 of I beams 44, and' each Such bracket 64 carries a pair of rectangular, js elfaligning slides 65 disposed in the adjacent channel 46. The top of-th'e back plate 62 has a pair of rearwardly extending brackets 66' each reinforced by'a pair of gusset plates 67 between each pair of which is pivotally connected the piston rod 69 ofj'a hydraulic ramQ The 'cylinder 70 of each such ram is pivotally connected, as at 71, to the up-ender plate 30. V 7

From the'description thus" far, it will be seen that the carriage 17, and the up-ender 29, together with the ram carrier 47 may be moved vertically relatively to the uprights 16, by actuation of the hydraulic rams 21. Furthermore, the up-ender 29 can be rotated ninety degrees by extension of the piston rod 41 of the ram 40, since such .novement of the rod 41 rotates the shaft 32 through the arm 42. Since the shaft 32 and the ram 40 are moved vertically along with the up-ender 29 by movement of the carriage 17, the up-ender may be rotated at any vertical position of the carriage.

It will further be seen that the guide members 44, together with the hydraulic rams 59 and 70 and the pallet carrier 61 are also carried by the up-ender so that they rotate together with the up-ender. In any rotated position of the up en'der, the ram carriage 47 may be moved linearly along the guide members 44 by actuation of the hydraulic rams 59. Similarly, the pallet carrier 61 maybe moved linearly along the guide members 44 by actuation of the hydraulic rams 70 in any rotated position of the up-ender. I should invite attention here to the fact that all of the hydraulic rams referred to are of the double acting type in order to obtain positive reverse action; however, the rams 21 controlling elevation of the carriage may be single acting, if desired.

I. have already alluded to the opposed C beams 52 mounted on the plate 49 of the ram carrier 47. At this point, Lshall invite attention to the fact that these C beams are disposed in perpendicular relation to the guide members 44 for a purpose that will. be made apparent later. i The. channels. 54 of these beams confine self-aligning slides 72 that are pivotally carried by the 'pl'ate49' and converges from the opposed sides 74, as

viewed in-Fig. 11 to support a shaft 82 on bearings 84 for rotation relatively to'the head. One end of the shaft is red'uced and screw threaded as at 85. to receive a retai'ning nut 86.

vTherarn 87 is supported from an arm 89 by a spacing the beam 90 in parallel relation to one another. As shown in Fig-14, arm 89 is supported adjacent one end by the shaft 82 for rotation therewith so that the ram 87 may rotate about: the axis of this shaft. In order to effect this rotation, the head 76 carries a double-acting hydraulic ram 91 pivoted as at 92 to one side of the head and extending; angularly thereof so that its piston rod 94. is, pivoted as at;95 to a rotator 96.. The rotator 96 is contoured to extend from the pivotal connection with the piston rod 94 outwardly of the head 76 through opening 97 provided for that purpose, whence it mergeswith the foremost portion of the arm 89.

It will. be seen that in any position of the up-ender, while the ram carrier and the pallet carrier may move linearly in one line of direction, the ram 87 may also move linearly in a line of direction perpendicular to. the line of direction of linear movement of the ram carrier and the pallet carrier. This movement of the ram 87 is accomplished through. the head76 by actuation of the hydraulicrams 77 to move the head along the.v channels 54 ofthe o'pposed- C beams 52.

In operation, to lift awcoil of tinplate, for example, the central cylindrical opening of which is horizontal, then bringa pallet into juxtaposed relation with one of the flat sides ofj the coil, rotate the coil' and, pallet vention is first driven to a position opposite a stack of pallets 192 as shown in Fig. 1. The pallet carrier, which I have chosen to illustrate as a pair of forks 61, may be elevated to the position suitable for inserting the forks into the uppermost pallet, this elevation being accomplished by actuation of the rams 21 to raise the entire coil handling structure mounted on the carriage 17. When the pallet carrier is raised to the proper height, the truck is'driven forward and the pallet carrier is then raised slightly to lift the uppermost pallet from'thestack. The up -ender isthe'n rotated ninety degrees by actuation of the hydraulic ram 40 thereby rotating the ram carrier 47 and the pallet to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position it will be seen that the beam 90 depends vertically from the arm 89 and that the ram 87 extends forwardly of the lowermost portion of the beam 90.

With the parts in this position, the truck is driven towards a roll of tinplate 194 while the supporting head 76 is raised or lowered by actuation of the hydraulic rams 77 to a position whereby the ram 87 will enter the cylindrical central opening 195 of the coil 194 as shown in Fig. 3.

After insertion of the ram 87 into the opening 195 of the-coil, the entire carriage is then elevated by extension of the hydraulic rams 21 whereby the coil 194 is lifted from the supporting block 196 along with the pallet 192. When both the pallet and coil are freely supported by the apparatus of the present invention, the hydraulic ram 91 is then extended so as to rotate the coil ninety degrees about the vertical axis of the shaft 82 to bring one of the flat surfaces of the coil in opposed relation to the supporting face of the pallet 192, as best shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a front elevational view of the truck showing the pallet brought into juxtaposed relation to one of the flat surfaces of the coil, this last openation being achieved by extension of the hydraulic rams 70 that control linear movement of the pallet carrier.

In order to bring the pallet and coil into position whereby they may be deposited with the pallet in supporting position relatively to the coil, the up-ender is rotated ninety degrees back to its original position as shown in Fig. 6. In this attitude, however, it will be seen that due to the previous elevation of the ram carrier, the rotation of the up-ender causes the extremity of the supporting head 76 to extend laterally outwardly beyond one side of the truck frame thereby extending the overall width of the truck. To eliminate this undesirable extension of the width of the truck, the hydraulic rams 59, controlling linear movement ofthe ram carriage relatively to the up-ender, are extended thereby moving the ram 87 upwardly until it is completely withdrawn from the central opening 195 of the coil, as shown in Fig. 7. The hydraulic rams 77 are then ac tuated to retract the piston rods 79 thereof, thereby shifting the supporting head 76 laterally to a position within the overall width of the frame of the truck as illustrated in Fig. 8. In this condition, the truck may be driven to any desired location and the palleted coil' deposited upon a flat surface as shown in Fig. 9 by retracting the piston rods 57 of the hydraulic rams 21 thereby lowering the carriage 17.

-From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have contributed a novel coil handling truck that carries an up-ender for rotation about a horizontal axis rela tively to the truck. It will also be seen that I contribute a coil lifting ram and a pallet carrier mounted for rotation with the up-ender, the ram also being mounted for rotation relative to the up-ender, and the up-ender itself being carried for vertical movement relatively to the truck. In my novel. construction, the coil lifting ram is also movable linearly in a line of direction angular to the line of direction of linear movement of the ram carrier and pallet carrier. Further, the ram itself is also rotatable about an axis angular to the axis of the rotation of the up-ender. The'various operations possible by reason of my novel' construction enables me to perform -all of the functions required to up-end and palletize a coil with but a single machine.

I believe that the construction and operation of my novel coil handling truck will now be understood, and that the advantages of my invention will be fully appreciated by those persons skilled in the art. I new claim:' 1 1. Infa truck of the class described, an upender mounted on said truck for rotation in a generally vertical plane, pallet suppo'rting means 'c'arr'ied 'by and rotatable with said upender, an article supporting ram carried by said upender spaced from said pallet supporting means and rotatable with said upender, and means mounting said article supporting ram for movement relative to said upender between a position in which said ram extends generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said upender and a position in which said ram extends generally parallel to said plane of-rotation of said upender and towards rotatable with said upender, means mounting said article supporting ram for movement relative to said upender between a position in which said ram extends generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said upender and a position in which said ram extends generally parallel to said plane of rotation of said upender and towards said pallet supporting means whereby an article supported on said ram may be oriented relatively to a pallet carried by said pallet supporting means, and means mounting said pallet supporting means and said article supporting ram on said upender for movement relatively toward and away from each other.

3. In a truck of the class described, an upender ounted on said truck for rotation in a generally vertical plane, pallet supporting means carried by and rotatable with said upender, an article supporting ram carried by said upender spaced from said pallet supporting means and rotatable with said upender, means mounting said article supporting ram for movement relative to said upender between a position in which said ram extends generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said upender and a position in which said ram extends generally parallel to said plane of rotation of said upender and towards said pallet supporting means whereby an article supported on said ram may be oriented relativelyto a pallet carried by said pallet supporting means, and means mounting said pallet supporting means on said upender for movement towards and away from said article supporting ram. g

4. In a truck of the class described, an upender mounted on said truck for rotation in a generally vertical plane, j pallet supporting means carried by and rotatable with said upender, an article supporting ram carried by said upender spaced from said pallet supporting means and rotatable with said upender, means mounting said' article supporting ram for movement relative to said upender between a position in which said ram extends generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said upender and a position in which said ram extends generally parallel ed on said truck for rotation in a generally vertical plane,

pallet supporting means carried by and rotatable with said agen -m i npenden. arrxartiele snppotting'ram. carried By said-upender spaced from saidpalletsupportingmeans and. rotatable with, said 'upender, means; mounting said article supporting ram for movement relative. to said upender between: a" position. in which said: ram extends generally perpendicular to the. plane; of: rotation, of saidupender and a positionin which, saidram; extends generallyvparallel to said plane: of notatiouofsaidupender and tqwardspsaid pallet supporting means whereby an article supported: on said ram may. be. oriented: relatively to; a; pallet carried by said pallet supporting; means, means mounting said palletsupporting meansao'nsaid. upenderfor movement :s towards and away froni said article: supporting rang-pant meansvmounting. said article supporting ram for movement on said'urfeflder: transversely of said pallet'lvsuppol'fiirigfiieaizs;

References Cited: in the file. ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,281,064 et'al'. r. 28; 1942 2,645, 2 'B fler a --v--- ly 3 

